Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Straight to Audio
Productions welcomes Lesley Mendenhall back to the studio. Lesley
played the role of Suki in Yikes! Another Quirky Audio Book.
Lesley will now tackle the role of Nancy Neptune in Gadzooks! A
Comically Quirky Audio Book.

In real life, Lesley works
as a professional voice actress for film, video games, animation,
industrial and commercial projects. When she's not in the studio,
Lesley serves on the Ivins City Council. Her contributions to the
community include co-founding a No-Kill Animal Shelter in Ivins.
Putting her passion for animal welfare into practice, Lesley is a
caretaker to nine rescue kitties.

Lesley with Tiger Lily, Studio Kitty Extraordinaire

Lesley's background includes
a BA in Music from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri where
her studies focused on Voice and Opera Performance. Somewhere along
the way, Lesley also learned to play the harp!

In her personal life, Lesley
is an avid reader, enjoying the works of Mercedes Lackey, Marion
Zimmer Bradley and Andre Norton. She's also a big fan of of the
popular PBS show, “Downton Abbey.” Additionally, Lesley enjoys
collecting antique Shelley and Wileman English Fine Bone China.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Production is underway for
Adele Park's new work titled WHEN ASSISTED SUICIDE ANDCOSMETICS COLLIDE . . . Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio
Book.Social taboos
are cast asunder as listeners are treated to a lighter look at
end-of-life situations.

In the eyes of Nadine, a
polygamist and serial bride, nudging her husbands into heaven is a
testament to her undying love. Even Nancy Neptune, a notorious shock
jock, is gobsmacked by Nadine's so-called “Celestial Send-Offs.”
Things go to hell in a hand basket when Nadine offs the wrong guy and
is charged with assisted suicide.

Meanwhile, Blue McKenna has
problems of her own. A power outage has leveled Blue's medical
marijuana dispensary. Scottie Sphincter, lead singer of a band
called The Rectal Surgeons, is fingered as a suspect. Blue attempts
to unmask the inscrutable Sphincter only to develop an annoying
crush on him.

Using witty narratives, a
cast of nine characters transport listeners to Navel, Utah, a place
where voyages to the afterlife are done with Godspeed. Cosmic mirth
and hilarity abound in Gadzooks! AComically
Quirky AudioBook.Stay
tuned for details about the upcoming release.

The
production of Gadzooks! A Comically Quirky Audio Book
is being dedicated to the late Ellie Perelli – the Coco Chanel of
Southern Utah.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

January Jones is a radio host, author, mother, grandmother avid golfer and No Whining Advocate. Check out January's latest project, "Priceless Personalities."

Priceless
Personalities by January Jones

Have
you ever met someone who was unforgettable?

Someone
who touched your heart and soul?

People
who have faced difficult problems?

People
who have struggled to find solutions?

People
who fearlessly shared their stories?

People
who have informed and inspired you?

People
who have Priceless
Personalities?

I
have been fortunate to host an Internet radio talk show called
”January Jones sharing Success Stories” and it has been my
privilege to interviews hundreds of guests. My guests have shared
their stories, their struggles, their secrets and their triumphs in
their own words.

In
this book, we’re talking about guests with problems such as incest,
molestation, runaway kids, child abuse, drug abuse, prostitution,
unemployment, scandal, starting over, self-confidence, self-esteem
and workplace issues. Then there are my guests dealing witth
difficult physical struggles such as blindness, cancer and birth
defects that are beyond traumatic.

My
guests have all been exciting, eclectic, and energizing. They have
amazed, amused and sometimes even astonished me. I have adored
getting to meet them and share them with my listeners.

However,
some of my special guests have reminded me of the American Express
commercials. You know the ones that stop you in your tracks and make
you feel warm and fuzzy all over. They have been positively
PRICELESS!
These are the kinds of the interviews that I will be sharing with you
today.

Let
me give you a peek at what’s inside this book.

There’s
Jeannie Kerrigan and Susanna Barlow, who have both been sexually and
mentally abused as children, but have written books that you can’t
put down. They have brought me to tears and then made me laugh with
them. You just want to hug them both.

Jeannie,
who was an incest victim, spent many years out on the streets so she
knows what it’s like out there. She is now working to create her
own non-profit called Ricky’s Revolution by reaching out to kids
who are on the streets with her book, Layla.

Susanna
has chosen to bravely speak the unspeakable reaching out to others
who are in polygamist families. She herself has found What
Peace There May Be by
helping others.
Neither of these young women is bitter but rather they have learned
how to forgive and go forward. Both these women are now working to
help other children learn how to survive and thrive.

For
them, it’s all about helping other kids who are being abused.

Then
we have Tawana Williams and Konnie Ellis who were both born with what
I consider physical handicaps but they don’t think of it that way.
They are the most positive and life affirming women that I have ever
met. Nothing is impossible for them. They just think it and then they
do it!

Tawana
was a Thalidomide baby born without arms. Her Mother bravely wrote to
President Kennedy requesting help for Tawana and JFK came to her
rescue. Her life has been difficult dealing with addictions and
physical challenges. She can type and change diapers with her feet.
Beware though, because Tawana is Unarmed
but Dangerous. She
is an original, delightful and adorable character.

Konnie,
along with her four siblings, was born blind. Now she has written a
loving book about her talented musician bother Rory Hoffman. Rory’s
Story is
fascinating but the real story here is Konnie and how her family
dealt with four children being blind. She is a wonderful wife, mother
and a devoted sister promoting her sibling Rory rather than herself.

For
them, it’s all about making the best of what they have, rather than
what they don’t have.

Then
there are two brother-in-laws, Stephen Simon and James Mapes, who
share their success stories and struggles in the entertainment world.
Stephen is the producer of the classic movie “Somewhere In Time”
and he shares what it was like growing up in Hollywood, both the
good, the bad and the ugly with Bringing
Back The Old Hollywood. His
tales are so, so delicious!

His
dear friend, James Mapes is a brilliant working actor who has done
everything you can imagine and is still doing more and more new
things each day. He has boundless energy and enthusiasm for living
life to it’s fullest. Right now he is busy helping people to make
Quantum LeapThinking and
producing his first movie.

For
them, it’s all about helping others to discover their own
spirituality and then embracing big changes in their lives.

Then
there are two women, Sydney Biddle Barrows and Anita Mafferty, who
are survivors in the truest sense of the word. They both are fearless
about sharing their experiences and overcoming great obstacles.

Sydney
was the notorious, The Mayflower Madame, experiencing a scandal that
changed her life forever. After dealing with publicity and
legalities, she picked herself up and recreated herself as a business
coach working within the system to help others with Uncensored
Sales Strategies.

Anita
Mafferty has had cancer three times and lost an eye. On her road to
recovery, she has become a CEO of a successful company called
COOL-JAMS
that sells fabulous pajamas that are made to keep you cool or warm
depending on the season. Also she keeps her one eye on her kids.

For
them, it’s all about forgetting their set backs and jumping feet
first into new ventures and creating new careers.

Lastly
there is Hugh Aaron and Daniel Blanchard who are both educators in
the truest sense of the word. These are two men who are sharing great
information, inspiration and then some really great advice for the
younger generation.

Hugh
is a representative of the greatest generation and he makes us all
proud to be Americans. After an amazing career as a CEO, he has
retired to become a prolific writer. Now well into his 80s, sharing
My Life in Words
with advice that isn’t sugar coated.

Daniel
Blanchard is an inspired high school teacher working in the inner
city with teenagers. Daniel is also a prolific writer helping kids to
start Feeling Lucky
about themselves. He is lovingly sharing all of his Granddaddy’s
Secrets with
them. Daniel is the real deal.

For
them, it’s all about, teaching, sharing and inspiring others to
reach their full potential.

Now
here you have 10 interviews from guests who were the most
unforgettable and Priceless
Personalities that
I have been fortunate enough to host on my show. It’s my hope that
you will sit back, relax and take the time to get to know them too.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Have
you unconsciously surrendered the fate of your novel to the whimsical
tastes of publishing executives? Do you think your book can't move
forward without the financial blessing of others? Agents and
publishers can certainly boost our careers, but I'm not sure they can
break them. In all likelihood, our destiny lies in our own hands.
It took several years worth of groveling at the heels of those in the
publishing industry for me to comprehend this.

Even
though you've probably spent years visualizing the success of your
book, how much time have you devoted to thinking about the specific
things you want to achieve? Perhaps you have a vague fantasy
involving money and fame. These things are definitely desirable, but
chances are there's more to it than that. The act of creation
ignites something within us, even if we can't put our finger on it.
There's a lot to be said for fully experiencing the moment we are in.

Many
of us hold our own dreams hostage by assuming things have to play out
in a specific manner. In my case, I wrongly believed the only way to
turn my manuscript into an audio book was to first have it published
in hard back. Under this scenario, I would have had to sell a barn
full of books before anyone would ever consider producing it in audio
form.

Once
I understood I had control over my own dreams, I formed an LLC called
Straight to Audio Productions and produced my first audio book. I
recorded and edited an 8.5 hour project using nothing but a mic, a
mixer and a laptop. Miraculously, I was able to get my project
listed for sale as an mp3 download on Audible.com. After that, I
built an actual studio and went to work recording Jitters-A
Quirky Little Audio Book. That
project went on to win a 2011 Audie from the Audio Publishers
Association in the multi-voiced category.

If
you are having trouble getting through to the top brass in the
publishing industry, try to find the courage to publish your book
anyway. E-books and desktop publishing companies make this process
inexpensive and easy to do. Don't miss the chance to live your art
just because things aren't happening exactly the way you had
envisioned. Outcomes are over-rated anyway. The biggest thrills
come from fully experiencing the projects you're passionate about.
Completing something you've been working on for a long time can be
anti-climactic, so the trick is to enjoy the process. Whatever you
do, try not to get attached to the outcome.

When
you run out of ideas, wing it. I've met very few people who work in
the audio book industry, so in my business I make everything
up as I go. Sure, I've taken a few wrong turns, but it's definitely
been an interesting journey. This lack of an industry blueprint has
left me free to dabble with different ways to tell a story. Unlike
most audio books which have one person doing the voices for all the
characters, my audio booksfeature full cast of
actors who tell their stories directly to the listener. I've also
taken the liberty of experimenting with different forms of narration.
Since the lead character in Jitters
is a radio shock jock, I thought it would be interesting to narrate
the story through a series of newscasts. With Yikes!
Another Quirky Audio Book,
I used a series of narration pieces called “Examine Our Navel.”
Like it or not, I probably couldn't float this idea to any
traditionalists in the audio book industry.

It
might seem risky, but there are advantages to “going rogue.” For
one thing, you don't have to follow any rules. Don't be afraid to
explore the unknown. Some of the best stuff comes from impromptu
moments.

I'm
sure we would all love to spend a few days in the Gucci shoes of the
publishing industry elite, but let's not assume this group has it
better than we do. Along with the perks comes more pressure. Rather
than focusing on what our project lacks, perhaps our energy would
best be spent being grateful for what we already have. Besides,
there's no telling where our books will end up – not knowing is
half the fun!

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Doug
“Ten”Rose, an author and modern day philosopher, has a new book
out. Doug participated in the Book Blogger Fair this summer and
continues to crank out fine reading for all!

Reincarnation
Through Common Sense by
Doug “Ten” Rosehas been
released in print as well as online.
Rose’s
previous work includes the cult classic Fearless
Puppy on American Road. All
author profits from sales of these books will be donated to sponsor
Buddhist Nuns and Monks. Mr. Rose has previously invented and
directed charitable projects involving rock stars, pro sports teams,
a governor, and many more. He has been recognized in the
Congressional Record, by The Giraffe Society, and has traveled over a
hundred thousand miles without ever driving a car, owning a phone, or
having a bank account. Project info, bio, sample chapters,
TV/radio/newspaper interviews and articles, and much more atwww.fearlesspuppy.org

“Once you accept the
universe as being something expanding into an infinite nothing which
is something,wearing stripes with plaid is easy.” Albert
Einstein

Reincarnation
Through Common Senseis
a book of stripes and plaid in the most entertaining sense of
Einstein’s words. Westerners have written many books about living
in Asian temples. None are like this true story.

The
rural Buddhist Monks and Nuns of a forest temple in Asia adopt a very
troubled traveler from Brooklyn, New York. He can’t speak the
language. No one there speaks English. He is penniless with no ticket
home. He is also very hung over, slightly suicidal, amusingly
psychotic, and has no intention of studying spiritual discipline.
This author is not a theology student! He is nonetheless given access
to the ancient roots and spiritual wings of the Wisdom Professionals
who rescue him. He redefines life and reports the details to us in a
manner so intimate and natural that you’ll think you are having
coffee on a barstool in the temple with him. You may laugh a lot on
your way to Nirvana! You may say “Ouch!” a few times, too.

Magic
is redefined as objective reality and common sense. Spirit is
presented as a functional friend, without the fairy dust. Moods run
from adventurous psychosis to enlightened bliss. Writing styles flow
from ancient prose through razor sharp modern internal rhyme as the
main character’s life runs through death and into reincarnation
without ever leaving his body. He describes this process to us in
vivid terms and living color.

This
down to earth treatment gives a clear view in simple terms of truths
we more often see fossilized within rusting symbols beneath stagnant
metaphor. Buy and read a copy of Reincarnation
Through Common Sense for
an experience unique in comedic drama, spirituality, adventure, and
sheer creativity.

It
also makes a great multiple-benefit gift! You help sponsor world
wisdom with every purchase!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Did you ever wonder how
Peter Pan came to inhabit Never Never Land? Or, for that matter, how
an orphaned boy earned such a curious name? The Utah Shakespeare
Festival answers these questions and more in a hilarious play called
Peter and the Starcatcherhttp://www.bard.org/plays/peter2013.html

Peter and the Starcatcher
is based on a novel by Dave Berry and Ridley Pearson. USF does an
outstanding job of bringing this delightful story to audiences in
Southern Utah. Peter Pan, known only as “Boy,” is played by
Rhett Guter, a talented actor/singer/dancer who also choreographed
this enchanting production http://www.rhettguter.com/.

Mattfeld
keeps the audience in stitches with outrageous antics and snarky
commentary.

Betsy
Mugavero is the lone female in a cast of scurvy pirates and
politicians, playing the role of Molly Aster, a Starcatcher
Apprentice http://betsymugavero-com.webs.com/.
Through Betsy's efforts, Boy, later known as Peter Pan, is allowed
to do the one thing that had thus far eluded him: enjoy the simple
pleasure of just being a boy.

While
Peter and the Starcatcher
delivers ample laughs, it is speckled with moments that are genuinely
poignant. Guter does and excellent job of portraying the pain of
being alienated, enslaved and nameless. Without touching off a
Spoiler Alert, suffice to say audiences will be cheering before the
final curtain drops.

Peter and the Starcatcher
is being performed in the
Randall L. Jones Theatre until October 18, 2013. For ticket
information, contact the Utah Shakespeare Festival
http://www.bard.org/index.html.

About Me

Adele
Park is an Audie Award Winning Author, Producer and Editor. Park
worked as a TV and radio reporter, news anchor and on-air personality
for more than 20 years. In 2008, Park formed Straight to Audio
Productions L.L.C. and opened a recording studio in St. George, Utah.